Grass guard device

ABSTRACT

A grass guard device having a supporting post member which carries adjacent its upper end a laterally-extending arm which extends over the edge of a roadway surface even though the supporting post member is thrust into the grassy area which is aside of the roadway surface, and providing that if the arm is engaged by a vehicle on the roadway surface the device audibly warns the driver of the vehicle of the closeness of the roadway edge and of the adjacent grassy area.

llmted States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,595 Barnett et al. 1 Feb. 4, 1975 GRASS GUARD DEVICE 2,986,113 5/1961 Frees eta]. 116/28 A 1 1 3 211212 211222 2111111111111. 1 P Barnett, both of 6268 Windsor Dr., Indiana olis, Ind. 46219 p Primary ExaminerR1chard C. Quelsser Flledl 1973 Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich [21] AppL NO: 344,928 Attorney, Agent, or FirmR0bert A. Spray [52] US. Cl. 116/63 R, 40/125 H, 40/125 N, ABSTRACT grass guard devlce having a supportlng post member [51] Int. Cl. E011 /00, 0081) 7/09 which carries adjacent its upper end a 1aterally [58] held of Search l 16/63 1 f 28 extending arm which extends over the edge of a road- /125 404m) 49/9 246/272 way surface even though the supporting post member is thrust into the grassy area which is aside of the [56] References C'ted roadway surface, and providing that if the arm is en- U T STATES PATENTS gaged by a vehicle on the roadway surface the device 1,523,221 1/1925 Kendall 40/145 A audibly warns the driver of the vehicle of the closeness 1,535,753 4/1925 Weiser 1 1. 49/9 X of the roadway edge and of the adjacent grassy area. 1,560,572 ll/I925 Hatton 116/63 X 1,707,951 4/1929 Schleicher 404/10 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FM'ENTEDFEB 4mm 3, 868 595 [Z I I 7 F14. 7

Fire. I

GRASS GUARD DEVICE This invention provides an economical yet effective grass guard device; and, more particularly, the concepts of the invention provide a grass guard device adapted to be easily inserted into the relatively soft grassy area to be protected, yet extends over the adjacent roadway to provide an audible warning to the driver of the vehicle, on the roadway, of the closeness of the edge of the said roadway surface and of the grassy area, thus to warn the driver to change the vehicle course appropriately to prevent it from being driven onto the grass.

The above description is quite generalized and of introductory nature. More particular details, concepts, and features of the invention and the particular inventive concepts are set forth in the following more detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying somewhat schematic and diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a grass guard device according to a desired embodiment thereof.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a plan view and an elevational view as taken on View-line 3-3 of FIG. 2, taken on much smaller scale than FIG. ll, ofa roadway and adjacent grassy area, with a grass guard device installed in the ground to provide protection of the grassy area from vehicles which are then being driven on the roadway but which are headed to go off the roadway onto the grassy area;

FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, are detail sectional views taken along View-lines XX and Y-Y of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are, respectively, cross-sectional detail views taken along View-lines XX or Y-Y of FIG. 1 but of embodiments in which the supporting post and lateral arm of the device are formed from a unitary body member.

As shown in the drawings, the present inventive concepts provide a new and useful grass guard device 10.

This advantageous grass guard device as shown comprises, as basic components, a supporting post member 12 which is adapted to be forced, as by hitting or thrusting, into the ground 11; and the supporting post member carries, adjacent its upper end, a laterallyextending arm means 14 which is adapted to extend over the edge 16 of an associated roadway surface 18 even though the supporting post member 12 is itself thrust into the ground 11 at a location in the grass area 19 which is aside of the roadway surface 18.

(This is shown particularly in FIG. 3, showing the arm 14 extending Ieftwardly past the reference line 16a which is a schematic reference line upwardly of the roadway edge 16.)

The supporting post member 12 and the arm means 14 provide that if the arm means 14 is engaged by a vehicle 20 on the roadway surface adjacent the edge 16 thereof, the arm means 14 will audibly warn the driver of the vehicle 20 of the close or adjacent proximity of the edge limit 16 of the roadway surface 18, and thus warn the driver to exert some driving maneuver to the vehicle 20 to prevent it from being driven off the edge of the roadway surface.

(The vehicle 20 is schematically indicated in FIG. 2 by a bumper 21 and wheel 22.)

It will be noted. particularly observing the positional differences ofthe arm 14 and its moved position 14a in FIG. 2, that relatively movable means of the device accommodate a substantial movement of the arm means 14 without altering the engagement of the supporting post-member l2 and the ground 11.

More particularly as shown, it will be noted that the resilient deformation, occurring as an incident to movement of the arm means 14, causes a return movement of the arm 14 subsequent to release of engagement thereof of the portion (that is the bumper 21) of the vehicle 20 which had caused the initial movement of the arm 14, said return movement of the arm 14 being of a quick or snap-like nature which provides an audible engagement ofthe arm 14 with another portion of the vehicle 20, such other vehicle-portion being the tire or other portion of the vehicle wheel 22, fender, etc.

(It is of course assumed in FIG. 2 that the vehicle 20 is being moved generally upwardly as shown in the drawing.)

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, hinge means 23 interconnect, in a relatively movable manner, the supporting post member 12 and the said arm means 14, the hinge shown by loops 24 respectively passing through holes 26 in the post 12 and arm 14; and spring means 28 are shown operative between the supporting post member 12 and the said arm 14 to provide the resilient deformation which achieves that snap-like return movement of the said arm 14. (The spring means 28 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 as leaf springs 30 held by a rivet 32 passing through the springs 30 and a hold 34 in the arm 14, the spring-ends 35 which are remote from the rivets 32 freely overlying the post 12.)

In the advantageous and particularly economical form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the supporting post member 12 and the arm means 14 are integrally formed from a unitary body member.

FIG. 6 illustrates the provision of surface recess means 36 being provided in the unitary body member, adjacent the intersection of the arm 14 and the post 12, to provide a weakness portion providing for relative movement of the said arm means 14 with respect to the supporting post 12. In the FIG. 7 embodiment, the body member, which unitarily provides both the post 12 and the arm 14, is smooth-surfaced in contrast to being grooved as at 36 of FIG. 6; but the body member material is thin enough, and flexibly resilient enough, that the movement of the arm 14 is accommodated by resilient deformation of the arm 14 and the upper portion of the post 12, without disturbing the groundengaging bottom of the post 12.

Convenience of installation of the device 10 into the ground 11 is shown as provided by the supporting post member 12 being provided with an enlarged head member 38; and the lower end of the supporting post member 12 is provided with a pointed extremity 40 fascillitating its being thrust into the ground 11.

If desired, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arm 14 is provided with an enlarged free end, such as is illustrated by the octagonal head 42 whose shape adds interest and acceptability to the device in that it corresponds to the octagonal nature of many stop signs, and if desired the arm may contain a visual warning reminder such as the arrow 44 and an identification legend 46 such as the words Grass Guard" shown in FIG. I.

It is thus seen that a grass guard device according to the inventive concepts provides a desired and advantageous device, providing economically and not unattractively a grass guard which easily is installed into the soft grassy ground adjacent a roadway surface, but which warningly protects the grassy ground against vehicles being driven onto it, by a warning prior to the vehicle getting to the roadway edge. No installation skill or special tools are required; and one or more may be used depending on the users choice, without causing unsightliness of the area.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the invention according to these illustrative embodiments, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful grass-guard having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment or form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.

What is claimed is:

l. A grass guard device, comprising, in combination:

a supporting post member adapted to be forced into the ground;

the supporting post member carrying, adjacent its upper end, laterally-extending arm means adapted to extend over the edge of an associated roadway surface even though the supporting post member is thrust into the-ground at a location aside of said roadway surface;

the sfip'portin'g' 'po'st member and the arm means providing that if the said arm means is engaged by a vehicle on said roadway surface adjacent the edge thereof, the said' arm means will au'dibly warn the driver of the vehicle of the adjacent proximity of the edge limit of the said roadway surface, and thus warn the driver to exert some driving maneuver to the vehicle to prevent it from being driven off the edge of the roadway surface;

the audible sound being produced by the said engagement of the arms means with a component of the vehicle such as its bumper, fender, tire or paneling,

either by the relative movement thereof by the engagement thereof as the below-mentioned returnbias or return-movement of the arm means causes it to forcefully encounter one of said vehiclecomponents;

in which relatively movable means of the arm means and/or the supporting post member accommodates a substantial movement of the said arm means without altering the engagement of the supporting post-member and the ground;

and in which a relative resilient deformation, of the arm means and/or the supporting post member, occurring as an incident to movement of said arm means, causes a return-bias of the arm means and subsequently a return movement thereof subsequent to release of engagement thereof of the portion of the vehicle which had caused said movement;

in a combination in which the said supporting post member and the said arm means are integrally connected in a unitary body member, which is of sufficient flexibility to provide the aforesaid relatively movable means resiliently accommodative of the said arm means movement without altering the ground engagement of the supporting postmember.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which surface recess means is provided in said body member to provide a weakened portion providing for relative movement of the said arm means with respect to said supporting post member.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which the supporting post member is provided with an enlarged head member accommodating convenient thrusting of the supporting post member into the ground, and the lower end of the said supporting post member is provided with a pointed extremity facilitating its being thrust into the ground, the said head member and the said lower end post-portion being likewise integral portions of the said unitary body member.

=l l l Patent No. 5 Dated February 4 1975 Inventor(s) Eugene Barnett et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 1, after-"thereof" insert or Signed and Scaled this second Day Of March 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer I (ommissim'wr nfParents and Trademarks 

1. A grass guard device, comprising, in combination: a supporting post member adapted to be forced into the ground; the supporting post member carrying, adjacent its upper end, a resiliently biased laterally-extending arm means adapted to extend over the edge of an associated roadway surface even though the supporting post member is thrust into the ground at a location aside of said roadway surface; the supporting post member and the arm means providing that if the said arm means is engaged by a vehicle on said roadway surface adjacent the edge thereof, the said arm means will audibly warn the driver of the vehicle of the adjacent proximity of the edge limit of the said roadway surface, and thus warn the driver to exert some driving maneuver to the vehicle to prevent it from being driven off the edge of the roadway surface; the audible sound being produced by the said engagement of the arms means with a component of the vehicle such as its bumper, fender, tire or paneling, either by the relative movement thereof by the engagement thereof as the below-mentioned return-bias or return-movement of the arm means causes it to forcefully encounter one of said vehicle-components; in which relatively movable means of the arm means and/or the supporting post member accommodates a substantial movement of the said arm means without altering the engagement of the supporting post-member and the ground; and in which a relative resilient deformation, of the arm means and/or the supporting post member, occurring as an incident to movement of said arm means, causes a return-bias of the arm means and subsequently a return movement thereof subsequent to release of engagement thereof of the portion of the vehicle which had caused said movement; in a combination in which the said supporting post member and the said arm means are integrally connected in a unitary body member, which is of sufficient flexibility to provide the aforesaid relatively movable means resiliently accommodative of the said arm means movement without altering the ground engagement of the supporting post-member.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which surface recess means is provided in said body member to provide a weakened portion providing for relative movement of the said arm means with respect to said supporting post member.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which the supporting post member is provided with an enlarged head member accommodating convenient thrusting of the supporting post member into the ground, and the lower end of the said supporting post member is provided with a pointed extremity facilitating its being thrust into the ground, the said head member and the said lower end post-portion being likewise integral portions of the said unitary body member. 